If you were expecting sharp political humor, think again. NBC’s “1600 Penn.,” which premieres tonight (at 8:30 p.m. on Channel 9), is at heart a sitcom made of leftovers from politically-tinged dramas like “The West Wing” and White House-set films like “Dave,” odds and ends that were discarded as too slapstick to make it into those scripts.

Josh Gad (“The Book of Mormon”) is the reason to watch; otherwise, the tale of an ordinary family who just happen to live in the White House is sweet but slight. Except for the occasional diplomat falling through a chair or Joint Chiefs of Staff discussing parenting issues in the basement, this take on family pressures could have been set anywhere beyond the Oval Office. The farcical tone could get old as a weekly dose.

Bill Pullman (“Independence Day”) is respectable as President Dale Gilchrist, the not-too-swift leader of the free world. But Gad steals every scene as big-hearted but bumbling son Skip, who craves his father’s approval. It’s good to see Jenna Elfman (“Dharma and Greg”) back in action as stepmom Emily, who has to battle to win over the kids. That battle brightens considerably whenever Elfman is onscreen opposite Martha MacIsaac (“Superbad”), as perfectionistic over-achieving daughter Becca. There are fun moments, if only there were more to it.

The fact that this comedy springs from the minds of Jason Winer (“Modern Family”), Jon Lovett (former White House speechwriter) and Gad should make us want to watch more. But the first three episodes, sent by NBC for previews, may have been enough.

Joanne Ostrow has been watching TV since before "reality" required quotation marks. "Hill Street Blues" was life-changing. If Dickens, Twain or Agatha Christie were alive today, they'd be writing for television. And proud of it.